The Knighting ceremony was an ancient ritual dating back to the beginnings of the Order's history and each Padawan was responsible for preparing themselves and reviewing their role in the ancient rite. Only the High Council could promote an apprentice to the rank of Knight by the end of the Republic; though in the past the student's master was also permitted to knight their own students. After passing the Jedi Trials, the student was assigned a date that the ceremony was set to take place on. The day before the ceremony the Padawan was required to ascend to the heart of the Tranquillity Spire where they were to meditate within the preparation chamber located there. While typically alone, it wasn't unheard of for several Padawans to meet there at once; though socializing was frowned upon as each apprentice was supposed to be searching for their future path.[1]

The following day, the Padawan was summoned to the next level of the Tower: the Hall of Knighthood. Entering into the darkened chamber, the Padawan would kneel in the center of the room as the Masters present ignited their lightsabers in a ring around the student. Led by the Grand Master of the Order, the other Masters were typically those who sat on the High Council and other prominent Jedi who helped in the apprentice's journey. If the High Council was unavailable, members of the other three Jedi Councils could step in to complete the ring. Reciting the ancient passages used in the traditional ceremony, the Grand Master would lower their lightsaber to just above each of the Padawan's shoulders and, for those of hair-growing species, sever the braid that hung behind the ear of the newly appointed Knight. The Jedi was then able to collect the braid and depart the chamber in silence, the ritual completed.[1]

While the ceremony was the norm, sometimes expedience overrode tradition. During times of war or on extended journey missions, Masters would knight their own students if they could not return to the Temple or field promotions were necessitated by another ranking military personnel's death.[1]

In addition to raising a Padawan to Knighthood, the Council also brought Knights to the Hall to grant them the rank of Master. To achieve this rank, a Knight could opt to take a modified version of the Trials, or successfully train a Padawan to Knighthood themselves.[1]

"Jaden, you handed yourself exceptionally well on Vjun. To confront three Dark Jedi and defeat them took bravery and skill. For your efforts, I feel that you are ready to join our ranks as a Jedi Knight."

Following the Great Jedi Purge, the exiled Grand Master Yoda trained the last Jedi of the Old Order, Luke Skywalker. Because Yoda died before Skywalker completed his training, the Human never was formally knighted and thus did not initially continue the rite in his resurrected Order.[1] Beginning a new praxeum on Yavin 4, Skywalker trained several classes of apprentices, pronouncing them Knights once they had completed a battery of tests and completed their own lightsabers. Without ceremony, the practice of raising students often took place in casual conversation or during an informal gathering,[2] as was the case with Jaden Korr in 14 ABY.[3]

Following the horrors of the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Temple on Coruscant was reconstructed, and the majority of the Order relocated there. Rebuilding the formal knighting hall, the Council once more continued the formal ceremony of the Old Order.[1]

Anakin Skywalker having his Padawanbraid cut off by Yoda during his Knighting ceremony.

At each formal ceremony, the Grand Master recited the same ancient words when knighting each Padawan. The formal opening of the ceremony welcomed the participating Masters, and focused their minds on why they were there.[1]

"We are all Jedi. The Force speaks through us. Through our actions, the Force proclaims itself and what is real. Today we are here to acknowledge what the Force has proclaimed."[6]

With that said, the Grand Master would call the Padawan by name and bring their lightsaber down above each of the kneeling student's shoulders.[1]

"By the right of the Council, by the will of the Force, I dub thee Jedi, Knight of the Republic."[1]

With the ceremony complete, the Knight would take up their lightsaber and exit the chamber in silence, signaling the end of the ritual.[6]